President Trump said Thursday that he would immediately double all existing US tariffs on Mexico if the country allowed a migrant caravan numbering more than 1,000 people to reach the American border.
“Here we go again!” Trump wrote in an extended Truth Social post. He linked the latest caravan to what he described as Republican losses in the midterm elections, emphasizing that he himself had not been on the ballot.
Trump claimed that “huge CARAVANS” were once again forming and moving illegally through Mexico, alleging that some of the migrants were people whom other countries did not want. “Send them to America,” he wrote, adding that they would not be allowed into the United States.
“MEXICO MUST STOP THEM, NOW, and if they do not do so, the Tariffs on Mexico will be IMMEDIATELY DOUBLED,” Trump continued. He said Mexico, Texas officials, the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been notified, warning that “there will be no leniency.”
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The caravan left Tuesday from Tapachula, a city in southern Mexico near the Guatemalan border. Some migrants said they were encouraged by the possibility of a more relaxed US immigration policy after Democrats made major gains on Capitol Hill the previous week.
Cesar Sandoval, a 47-year-old migrant from Nicaragua, told AFP that he hoped to get “another chance” to enter the United States. Referring to the newly elected Democrats, he said migrants hoped they would remember that “the sons of Hispanics, the sons of Latinos” helped elect them to Congress and the Senate.
“God is coming with us on this journey,” said Cristian Pablo, a 38-year-old migrant from Guatemala. He added that the United States offered greater opportunities than his home country.
Since September, the caravan has become the third group to attempt the journey through Mexico. Authorities broke up the previous two caravans and issued their members temporary stay permits.
